MEALS FOR MORE THAN A THOUSAND CHILDREN. COCO PACKS SLOGAN FIGHTING CHILDHOOD HUNGER. ONE HEART AT A TIME. ALL OF THAT FOOD WOULD HAVE BEEN THROWN AWAY IF WE DIDN’T RESCUE IT. THAT’S CHRISTINE DRECHSLER. WE ARE SO BLESSED BY ALL THIS FOOD TODAY, MAINLY FOCUSED ON PUTTING FOOD ON CHILDREN’S PLATES. YOU LOOK SO PRETTY TODAY. IT MAKES ME FEEL BLESSED AND AND HEARTBROKEN IN THE SAME. IN THE SAME SENTENCE. BLESSED THAT WE’RE ABLE TO BE OUT HERE, BUT HEARTBREAKING FOR THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE BRINGING PEOPLE UP THEIR CHILDREN TO OUR LINE. COCO BACKES HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC, AND THEY SAY THE LINE TO GET FOOD HAS NEVER BEEN THIS LONG. CHRISTINE PARTIALLY THANKS IRON HILL FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN. THE LINE IS LONG TODAY DUE TO THE EXTRAORDINARY GENEROSITY OF IRON HILL. THEY HAVE BEEN A TREMENDOUS PARTNER TO THIS ORGANIZATION. FROM THE GET GO. IRON HILL BREWERY UNEXPECTEDLY CLOSED ALL THEIR LOCATIONS LAST WEEK, INCLUDING THEIR HERSHEY LOCATION, CALLING COCO PACKS TO TAKE NEARLY $15,000 OF ALMOST WASTED FOOD. WAS THIS OUT OF THE BLUE? ABSOLUTELY OUT OF THE BLUE. WE JUST GOT A PHONE CALL AND SAID, LISTEN, WE’RE CLOSING. COME DOWN HERE IF YOU GUYS CAN GRAB THE FOOD. AND WE LITERALLY HAD TWO VAN LOADS FILLED WITH FOOD, FRENCH FRIES, PRETZEL ROLLS AND LOGS, AS WELL AS ALL THE OTHER FOOD COCO PACKS OFFERS EVERY WEEK ON WEDNESDAYS. IT JUST FEELS GOOD BECAUSE ALL THE FOOD THAT’S RESCUED HERE WOULD HAVE ENDED UP IN A LANDFILL, AND THIS WAY IT ENDS UP HELPING PEOPLE THAT ARE HUNGRY. WE TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER ON PURPOSE, NOT JUDGMEN
Hershey nonprofit turns brewery’s closure into meals for kids in need
Updated: 6:21 PM EDT Oct 1, 2025
When Iron Hill Brewery abruptly closed its locations last week due to financial challenges, a Hershey-based nonprofit stepped in to ensure leftover food didn’t go to waste. Cocoa Packs, an organization dedicated to fighting childhood hunger, transformed nearly $15,000 worth of food from the brewery into meals for more than a thousand children.“All of that would have been thrown away if we didn’t rescue it,” said Christine Drexler, President and Founder of Cocoa Packs.The organization, that serves over 1,600 children since the COVID-19 pandemic, saw an unprecedented turnout this week.“The line is long today due to the extraordinary generosity of Iron Hill,” said Drexler. “They have been a tremendous partner to this organization from the get-go.”The brewery’s closure came as a surprise to everyone, especially to Cocoa Packs.“Absolutely out of the blue,” said Drexler. “We just got a phone call and said, listen, we’re closing. Come down here if you guys can grab the food. And we literally had two van loads filled with food.”The donation included items like french fries, pretzel rolls, and other staples Cocoa Packs distributes weekly. Volunteers emphasized the importance of food rescue efforts.“It just feels good because all the food that’s rescued here would have ended up in the landfill. And this way, it ends up helping people that are hungry,” said Don Umberger, a Cocoa Packs volunteer for two years.Drexler reflected on the bittersweet nature of the situation.“It makes me feel blessed and heartbroken in the same sentence,” said Drexler. “Blessed that we’re able to be out here, but heartbreaking for the challenges that are bringing people, their children to our line.”If you’re interested in volunteering for Cocoa Packs, follow this link.
When Iron Hill Brewery abruptly closed its locations last week due to financial challenges, a Hershey-based nonprofit stepped in to ensure leftover food didn’t go to waste. Cocoa Packs, an organization dedicated to fighting childhood hunger, transformed nearly $15,000 worth of food from the brewery into meals for more than a thousand children.
“All of that would have been thrown away if we didn’t rescue it,” said Christine Drexler, President and Founder of Cocoa Packs.
The organization, that serves over 1,600 children since the COVID-19 pandemic, saw an unprecedented turnout this week.
“The line is long today due to the extraordinary generosity of Iron Hill,” said Drexler. “They have been a tremendous partner to this organization from the get-go.”
The brewery’s closure came as a surprise to everyone, especially to Cocoa Packs.
“Absolutely out of the blue,” said Drexler. “We just got a phone call and said, listen, we’re closing. Come down here if you guys can grab the food. And we literally had two van loads filled with food.”
The donation included items like french fries, pretzel rolls, and other staples Cocoa Packs distributes weekly. Volunteers emphasized the importance of food rescue efforts.
“It just feels good because all the food that’s rescued here would have ended up in the landfill. And this way, it ends up helping people that are hungry,” said Don Umberger, a Cocoa Packs volunteer for two years.
Drexler reflected on the bittersweet nature of the situation.
“It makes me feel blessed and heartbroken in the same sentence,” said Drexler. “Blessed that we’re able to be out here, but heartbreaking for the challenges that are bringing people, their children to our line.”
If you’re interested in volunteering for Cocoa Packs, follow this link.